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The Floating Press - Angus Cox Stephen

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80 pages

English

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Younger readers with an interest in history and battlefield action will appreciate this thrilling fictionalized account of the Revolutionary War. Part of the popular "Dare Boys" series of juvenile historical action-adventure, this novel provides a firsthand account of the conflict that resulted in America's independence -- and of the brave sacrifices that many made to bring about that goal.

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Children's

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Publié par	The Floating Press
Date de parution	01 septembre 2014
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781776586356
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0134€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

THE DARE BOYS OF 1776
* * *
STEPHEN ANGUS COX

*
The Dare Boys of 1776 First published in 1910 Epub ISBN 978-1-77658-635-6 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77658-636-3 © 2014 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
*
Chapter I - The Clang of the Liberty Bell Chapter II - Waylaid on the Road Chapter III - Ben Foster Brings Important News Chapter IV - A Night Attack Chapter V - The Dare Boys in New York Chapter VI - Chosen for Dangerous Work Chapter VII - Dick's First Adventure Chapter VIII - Tom Dare Acts Chapter IX - The Brothers Together Chapter X - In the Enemy's Camp Chapter XI - Tom in Trouble Chapter XII - Dick Does Wonderful Work Chapter XIII - General Washington is Pleased Chapter XIV - The Haunted House Chapter XV - Dick Again Does Spy-Work Chapter XVI - The Battle of Long Island
Chapter I - The Clang of the Liberty Bell
*
It was the fourth day of July of the year 1776. There was greatexcitement in all of the colonies of America at that time, for on thisday the representatives of the people, gathered together in the cityof Philadelphia, were to decide whether the Declaration ofIndependence, already drawn up, should be adopted and signed. InPhiladelphia, as may well be supposed, the excitement was so intensethat the people suspended business. They thronged the streets, walkingup and down, talking excitedly, and waiting, waiting for the decisionto be made, the determination that would mean so much to them.
The people talked and gesticulated, and there was considerablearguing, some contending that the Declaration of Independence would beadopted and signed, others that it would not.
"Look, here it is almost evening," contended one of these latter, "andnothing has been done yet. If they were going to adopt the Declarationit would have been done before this. The delay means that it will notbe done."
"They are taking their time to it, that is all," replied the others."It is a most serious matter and not to be taken up hastily andwithout due thought. They will adopt and sign the Declaration ofIndependence before the day is gone, see if they don't!"
Dick and Tom Dare, two patriot youths, brothers, from about threemiles over in New Jersey, who had come to the city to hear the news,listening eagerly, were thrilled by the excitement and interest shownon every side.
"Oh, I hope they will adopt the Declaration of Independence, Dick!"said Tom. "I'm sure they will, aren't you?"
"I think they will, Tom. I hope so."
"Bah, they won't do nothin' uv the kind, Dick Dare!" cried a sneeringvoice at their side, and turning, the Dare youths saw Zeke Boggs andLem Hicks, the sons of two Tory neighbors, standing there.
"Uv course they won't," added Lem Hicks. "They don't darst. They knowthat ef they do, they'll git into trouble with King George. They won'tring no old Liberty Bell to-day."
"Well, they just will!" cried Tom Dare, who was an excitable,impulsive youth. "They'll ring it pretty soon, Lem Hicks, and theyaren't afraid of your old king, not a bit of it!"
"What's thet! Don't ye dare speak disrespectfully uv the king!"snarled Zeke Boggs, making a threatening motion with his fist. "Ef yedo, why et'll be the worse fur ye, that's all."
Instantly Dick Dare, who was the elder of the brothers, a handsome,manly youth of eighteen years, seized Zeke by the wrist, and pushedhim back, at the same time saying quietly, yet firmly:
"That will do, Zeke. Don't go making any threats. You and Lem go aboutyour business, and don't interfere with Tom and I."
"We'll go where we please," snarled Zeke, who was a vicious youth ofabout Dick's age, as was Lem Hicks also. "An' we'll stay heer ef wewant to, too, Dick Dare, an' ye can't he'p yerself."
"That's all right," calmly; "you can stay here, I suppose, if you wantto, but you will have to behave yourselves and attend to your ownbusiness. If you try to interfere with Tom and I, or to bully us, youwill wish you hadn't stayed."
"Is thet so?" sneeringly. "Whut'll ye do, Dick Dare, hey?"
"Yes, whut'll ye do?" cried Lem Hicks, pushing forward and facingDick.
Tom confronted him quickly, and met his angry glare unflinchingly. Tomwas only sixteen years of age, but he was well-built and athletic forhis age, and was moreover as brave as a lion, though somewhatquick-tempered and impulsive. He put out his left hand and, placing itagainst Lem's chest, pushed him back.
"Hold on, Lem Hicks," he said. "Just you stand back. One at a timetalking with Dick is enough. You talk to me, if you want to talk toanybody."
Lem Hicks was a hot-tempered youth also, and suddenly his rage flaredto the surface. He didn't relish being pushed back by Tom, and quickas a flash, he gave the patriot youth a smart slap on the cheek.
"That thet, an' l'arn to keep yer han's offen people!" he snarled.
The blow was with the flat of the hand, and while it smarted, it didnot hurt much to speak of, but it was sufficient to start impulsiveTom Dare into action, and quick as a flash out shot his fist. Itcaught Lem Hicks between the eyes and knocked him down flat on hisback.
"There, see how you like that!" exclaimed Tom, his eyes flashing. "Iguess that next time you'll think once or twice before you slap me inthe face!"
With an angry exclamation, Zeke Boggs struck at Dick Dare, but thatyouth was on his guard, and he warded the blow off, and striking outhimself, landed a blow on Zeke's jaw, downing him as neatly as hadbeen the case with Hicks.
Instantly a crowd gathered, many eagerly asking what the trouble wasabout. Dick and Tom explained that the two youths who had been flooredwere Tories, and the sympathies of the crowd were at once with Dickand Tom, more especially when they learned that the Tory boys hadpicked the quarrel with the patriots.
"You did just right in knocking them down!" was the cry, and sohostile were the looks, actions and words of the crowd, that Zeke andLem on scrambling to their feet, did not renew the fight. They shooktheir fists at Dick and Tom, however, and muttered threats, as theymoved away through the crowd declaring that they would get even withDick and Tom.
The patriot youths received the congratulations and commendations ofthe people in their vicinity with becoming modesty, and a little latermoved on up the street.
They walked about for an hour or more, after that, and then took uptheir station as near the old State House as they could. There wassuch an immense crowd there that it was impossible to get within halfa block of the building. In the steeple of the State House was a bell,and the old bell-ringer sat beside it, waiting for the moment when hisson, stationed below, should give him word that the Declaration hadbeen adopted, when he would ring the bell. He had been stationed theresince morning, waiting, waiting, and as the day wore away and stillthe word to ring came not, he shook his head and muttered that theywould never reach a favorable conclusion.
But he was mistaken, for when evening was almost at hand, his son camerushing out of the State House and called up eagerly and excitedly:
"They've done it, father! They've adopted and signed the Declarationof Independence! Ring the bell! Ring it, father! Ring the bell! Ringit—quick!"
With a glad cry, the old man leaped up, forgetting his rheumatism inhis excitement and delight, and seizing the great iron clapper, swungit back and forth against the sides of the great brass bell, thuscausing it to do what by a strange coincidence the inscription on itsside said it was to do, viz.: "Proclaim liberty throughout all theland unto all the inhabitants thereof."
Chapter II - Waylaid on the Road
*
As the deep tones of the old bell died away on the evening air a greatshout of delight went up from the people on the streets. They leapedand danced for joy. They tossed their hats in the air. They shoutedand sang. Many wept for joy. It was an exciting, a thrillingmanifestation.
Dick and Tom Dare were not a whit behind any in their expressions ofdelight. They shouted for joy, and then in the excess of theirhappiness they threw their arms around each other in a bearlike hug.
"Oh, Dick, I'm so glad!" cried Tom. "I never was so happy in my life."
"Nor I, Tom. This is the most joyous hour of my life! How delightedfather will be when we go home and tell him that it is settled, thatthe Declaration of Independence is a real and determined fact!"
"It will please him more than anything else in the world, Dick."
"Yes, yes indeed."
Then lifting up his voice the patriot youth cried out loudly, hisvoice ringing clear as the notes of a bugle:
"Down with the king! Long live Liberty! Long live Washington!"
The excitement was even greater after that, and instantly the cry wastaken up on every hand. Thousands shouted aloud, in a thrilling,triumphant roar: "Down with the king! Long live Liberty! Long liveWashington!"
People leaped and danced, and shouted till they were hoarse. They werelike crazy people, but with them it was pure joy because of thethought that they were to be free, to be their own masters,independent of a tyrannical king. They had reason to be joyous andhappy.
It was certainly a great day for the American people-without doubt thegreatest in the history of the greatest country on the face of theGlobe.
After awhile, when the people had calmed down to a considerable extentand were beginning to disperse to their homes, Dick and Tom Dare settheir faces homeward. They were soon at the rive